Fulling machine



5 Sheets-Sheet D. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE Filed Decv Nov. 17, 1931.

Nov. 17, 1931. D. GESSNER FULL-ING MACHINE Filed Dec." 5, 1930 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 17, 1931. n. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE Filed Dec 5.1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 17, 1931. D. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE FiledDec. 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 jzde mzfrr'." JQM iea Qmar Nov. 17, 1931.D. GESSNER FULLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 'O .hdz-rJaded Gess rzer I37 W 4. Mr M Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES DAVIDGESSNER, or wonons'rna; mssnonvsnrrs FULLING MAonInE Application filedDecember 5,1930. Serial Il'o. 500,334.

This invention relates toamachine for fulling and shrinking fabrics,such as woolen or worsted cloth, and relates more particularly toimprovements in the type of fulling ma- 6 chine shown and described inmy prior application Serial No. 442,088, filed April 7,

The machine therein shown comprises a rotated cylinder having freelyrotatable full- 1 ing rolls spaced about its periphery and having aconveyor apron underlying said cylinder and supporting the cloth beneaththe cylinder at full width and in transversely fold ed condition.

It is the general object of my present invention to improve the fallingmachine shown in my prior application by certain changes and additionswhich make the machine more economical to manufacture and more effectivefor the purposes intended.

WVith this general object in View, one feature of the invention relatesto the provision of means for elevating the fulling cylinder withrespect to the conveyor apron.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of aconstruction by which yielding action between the cylinder and apron ismade possible. v

Further features of the invention relate to the provision of means fordefinitely rotating the fulling rolls before they engage the cloth; andto the provision of means for pleating the cloth as it is fed to theconveyor apron and for varying the size and spacing of the folds.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

6 A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved fulling machine; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation-of certain driving and adjustingmechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof certain parts, looking in the direction of thearrow 3 in Fig. 2' i Fig. '4 is a sectional side elevation of certainelevating mechanism;

Fig. 5'is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 55 in Fig. 4; r

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of one of the cylinder roll bearings andcertain associated parts;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of certain parts shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation, taken so alongthe line 99 in Fig.7;

Fig. 10 is aside elevation, partly in section, of portions'of thefulling cylinder and its supportingmechanism;

' Fig. 11 is a sectional plan View, taken 05 along the line 1111 in Fig.10;

Fig. '12 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the fullingcylinder and conveyor apron;

Fig. 13 is a sectional end elevation of the 79 fulling cylinder andcertain associated parts, taken substantially along the line 1313 inFig. 10:;

Fig. 14 is a sectional side elevation, showing thebearings of one of the'fulling rolls ancdltaken along the line 14-14 in Fig. 13; an

Fig. 15 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 15- 15 inFig. 14.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, my im- 0 proved fulling machinecomprises a frame 20 on which the several parts of the machine areassembled and supported. A conveyor apron 22 is mounted on guide rollsor sprockets 23, 24, 25 and 26. The sprockets 23 are prefers5 ablymounted in fixed bearings 21 at the delivery end of the machine. Thesprockets *26 are preferably mounted in bearings 27 at the supply sideof the machine, which bearings are slidable on the frame 20 and may beadjusted by a hand wheel 28. The sprockets 24 and 25 are mounted inbearings 30, slidable in guideways 31 and yieldingly supported bysprings 32.

While different forms of conveyor aprons may be used in my improvedmachine, I preferablyuse an apron of the general construction shown inFig. 12, comprising chains 34 supported on the rolls 23, 24, '25 and 26and having cross bars '35, preferably of wood, se-

cured to said chains in closely adjacent relation. 011 its lower orreturn run, the conveyor apron 22 is drawn through a tank 86 mounted onthe frame 20 and containing water or other liquid suitable for keepingthe conveyor apron well cleaned.

The fulling cylinder comprises heads (Fig. 10) fixed on a cylinder shaft41 which is supported in bearing blocks 42. The blocks 42 are providedwith recesses 43 (Fig. 7) in their edge portions which fit closely overguiding portions 44 of the machine frame 20. Each bearing block 42 isconnected by a pin or stud 45 (Fig. 9) to the upper end of a supportingand elevating shaft 46.

The shafts 46 at their lower ends are threaded into nuts 47 which arerotatably mounted in bearings 48 (Fig. 4) on the frame 20. A worm gear50 is formed integral with each nut 47 and is engaged by a worm 51 on aworm shaft 52 which extends transversely of the machine and is rotatablysupported in fixed bearings 53 (Fig. 11).

A sprocket 54 is fixed to the front end of the worm shaft 52 and isconnected by a chain 55 (Figs. 2 and 3) to a sprocket 56 on a crossshaft 57 rotatable in fixed bearings 58 and having a handle 59 at itsforward end. By turning the handle 59, the worm shaft 52 may be rotatedin any desired direction, causing corresponding movement of the wormgears 50 and raising or lowering the threaded supporting shafts 46 andthe bearing blocks 42. In this way the fulling cylinder may beconveniently adjusted vertically toward or away from the conveyor aprons22.

The fulling cylinder is provided with a large sprocket 60 (Fig. 2)loosely rotatable on the shaft 41 and connected by a chain 61 to apinion 62 on the armature shaft of a motor M. The chain 61 hassuificient slack to permit the relatively small vertical adjustment ofthe fulling cylinder.

A friction clutch F (Fig. 8) of any usual form is slidably mounted onthe cylinder shaft 41 and may be moved by a handle 63 (Fig. 2) toconnect the sprocket 60 to the cylinder shaft 41 whenever it is desiredto rotate the cylinder. The handle 63 is pivoted on a bracket 63 (Fig.8) movable vertically with the bearing blocks 42.

A plurality of fulling rolls 64 are mounted on shafts 65 rotatable inbearings 66 on the cylinder heads 40. These rolls may be plaincylindrical rolls, as indicated at 64 (Fig. 12)

or they may be grooved longitudinally, as indicated at 64 (Fig. 12), orthey may be grooved circumferentially, as indicated at 64 (Fig. 12).These rolls may be used in any desired combination and may be selectedwith reference to the particular fabric to be treated.

I have found it desirable to provide means for giving the fulling rollsa definite rotating motion about their own axes before they engage thefolds of cloth to he treated, and for this purpose I provide each rollshaft (55 (Fig. 14) with a grooved pulley 70 positioned to engage a belt71 which extends around the entire series of rolls, as indicated in Fig.13.

One end of the belt 71 is secured to a cross rod 72 (Fig. 15) supportedby brackets 72 on the bearing blocks 42, and the other end of the belt71 is connected to a threaded end member 7 3, extending loosely througha similar cross rod 74 and adjustable therein by lock nuts 75. Byturning the nuts 75, the belt 71 may be tightened or loosened asdesired.

The cloth C (Fig. 1) is fed to the fulling machine by a feed roll andpresser roll 81 which may be driven from the motor M by suitable speedchanging connections, one form of such connections being indicated inFig. 1.

I have also provided pleating members 85 and 86 (Fig. 1) each comprisingcross arms having rods 87 at their opposite ends. The pleating members85 and 86 may also be driven from the motor M through additional speedchanging connections as shown in Fig. l and the members are gearedtogether, as by a chain 88 and sprockets 89, so that they maintain theangular relation indicated in Fig. 1.

The cloth C as it is fed downward is alternately engaged by the crossrods 87 of the pleating members 85 and 86, such engage ment being firston one side of the cloth and then on the other, and by such engagementthe cloth is deposited in definite folds on the apron 22.

By varying the speed of the feed roll 80 or the speed of the pleaters 85and 86, or both, the number of pleats per yard of cloth as well as theheight of the pleats may be accurately regulated. For instance, a yardof cloth may be deposited in nine folds each containing four inches ofcloth, or in tweleve folds containing three inches each, or in any otherdesired number or size of folds.

A most important advantage arises from the use of the pleaters 85 and86, namely, the deposit of uniform folds on the conveyor apron 22. It isfound that variations in the folds produce variations in the fullingaction and that uniformity of fulling is very largely dependent uponuniformity of the folds in which the cloth is deposited on the conveyor.

A pressor roll 90 (Fig. 13) preferably engages the cloth C as the apronpasses over the rolls or sprockets 25 previously described andassists incompressing the folds before being acted upon by the fulling cylinder.

It will be noted that the pulleys 70 (Fig. 14) are of substantially thesame diameter as the roll 64, and that the belt 71 (Fig. 13) extendssubstantially along the path of travel of the folded cloth under thefulling cylinder.

Consequently, as the pulleys roll along the belt 71, the peripheries ofthe rolls 64 will roll along the folded cloth in a similar manner andpractically without any tendency to displace the folds.

Without the use of the belt 71, the rolls 64 would have no definitespeed of rotation about their own axes as they engage the cloth C andwould have a marked tendency to dis arrange the folds before theyacquired the proper rolling speed. By giving the rolls a definite andpredetermined speed of rotation before they engage the cloth, uniformaction of the fulling machine is much facilitated.

The provision of the yielding bearings 30 (Fig. 1) for the guide roll orsprockets 24: and 25 permits the apron to yield and move away from thefulling cylinder if too much cloth is deposited on the apron or if thecloth is deposited thereon in an irregular manner by some carelessnessof the operator.

The cylinder elevating mechanism is used for varying the relation of thecylinder and apron for thicker or thinner fabrics and for differentarrangements of the folded fabric on the apron.

The provision of means for washing the cross bars of the conveyor apronduring their lower or idle run is important, as the bars are more widelyseparated in their lower run and can be more effectively cleaned ofcoloring matter or fibres adhering thereto. particularly important wherea machine is used successively for different kinds or colors of fabric,as otherwise coloring matter or fibres of one kind may be carried alongand disfigure a different kind or color of fabric.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is 1. A fulling machinecomprising a conveyor apron, a fulling cylinder having fulling rollsspaced about its periphery, means to rotatably support said cylinderabove said conveyor apron, and manual means to raise or lower both endsof said cylinder simultaneously and equally.

2. A fulling machine comprising a conveyor apron, afulling cylinderhaving fulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotatablysupport said cylinder above said conveyor apron, said supporting meansincluding verticallythreaded shafts, nuts rotatably mounted in fixedbearings and threaded on said shafts, and means to rotate said nutssimultaneously to raise or lower said cylinder.

3. A fulling machine comprising a conveyor apron, a fulling cylinderhaving fulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotatablysupport said cylinder above said conveyor apron, and means to supportsaid conveyor apron at spaced points beneath said This is" fullingcylinder and to yieldingly ress said conveyor apron toward said cyliner. r

4. A fulling machine comprising a conveyor apron, a fulling cylinderhaving fulling rolls spaced. about its periphery, means to rotatablysupport said cylinder above said conveyor apron, a plurality ofrotatable sup porting membersfor said conveyor apron, and yieldingbearings for certain of said members, wherebysaid apron is adaptedtoyield relative to said fulling cylinder.

5. A fulling machine comprising a con veyor apron, fulling devicesengaging cloth deposited on said apron, cloth feeding devices, and meansengaging the cloth between the feeding devices and the apron and causingthe cloth to be deposited in uniform folds thereon.

6. The combination in a fulling machine as set forth in claim 5, inwhich means is provided for varying the size and spacing of the folds.

7. A fulling machine comprising a conveyor apron, fulling devicesengaging cloth deposited on said apron, cloth feeding devices, and apair of pleating members successively engaging the cloth on oppositesides thereof and causing the cloth to be deposited in uniform folds onthe conveyor apron.

8. A fulling machine comprising a conveyor apron, fulling devicesengaging cloth deposited on said apron, cloth feeding devices, a pair ofpleating members successively engaging the cloth on opposite sidesthereof and causing the cloth to be deposited in uni- 10 form folds onthe conveyor apron, and variable speed driving means for said pleatingmembers.

9. In a fulling machine, a fulling cylinder having a plurality offulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotate said cylinder,and means to rotate said rolls on said cylinder.

10. In a fulling machine, a fulling cylinder having a plurality offulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotate said cylinder,and means to rotate said rolls on said cylinder but in the oppositedirection.

11. I11 a fulling machine, a fulling cylinder having a plurality offulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotate said cylinder,and. means to rotate said rolls on said cylinder but in the oppositedirection and at substantially the peripheral speed of freely rollingcontact with the cloth engaged by said no rolls.

12. In a fullin g machine, a fulling cylinder having a plurality offulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotate said cylinder,and a fixed element operatively en- 15 gaging portions of said rolls andcausing rotation of said rolls in the opposite direction from therotation of said cylinder.

13. In a fulling machine, a fulling cylinder having a plurality offulling rolls spaced 1% about its periphery; means to rotate said cylinder, pulleys on said rolls, and afixed contact element engaged by saidpulleys and causing rotation of said rolls in the opposite directionfrom the rotation of said cylinder.

14. In a fulling machine, a fulling cylinder having a plurality offulling rolls spaced about its periphery, means to rotate said cylinder,pulleys on said rolls, and a fixed belt encircling the entire series ofpulleys and causing rotation of said rolls in the opposite directionfrom the rotation of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- DAVID GESSNER.

' fixed my signature.

